Table Hopping giveaway: Tickets to Albany winefest gala

Last of five Wine & Dine for the Arts giveaways. The contest closes at 5 p.m. Monday (1/14).

Today’s Table Hopping giveaway is a pair of tickets to the closing reception and gala dinner for Wine & Dine for the Arts, scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Saturday (1/19) at the Hotel Albany. The giveaway represents a $300 value, and tickets are otherwise unavailable, as the gala is sold out. Ten of the Capital Region’s top chefs are collaborating on the event (menu here), which will also feature live and silent auctions (items after the jump).

The winner will be chosen at random from comments posted below that answer the question in the next paragraph. Comments that don’t answer the question will be deleted. One comment submitted per person. Multiple answers from same person/email address disqualifies all from that person.

Question: Looking over the list of auction items, which would you compete for if your tickets also came with cash to use for bidding?

The entire festival was sold out before it started last year. See the schedule and buy tickets here.

In all, more than 70 Capital Region chefs will participate in some part of Wine & Dine for the Arts, which in its first three years has raised more than $168,000. The goal this year is $100,000.

WINE & SPIRITS COLLECTION: An extensive collection of wines & liquors that have been selected to make a complete starter collection and bar. There are many premium & super premium bottles included in this package. Perfect for the person that entertains!
Donated by: Empire Merchants North. Value: $3,500.

SUVIR SARAN DINNER FOR 8 AT MASALA FARM: How would you like to have dinner prepared by the “Breakout Star of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters”? Our Festival Honorary Chef Suvir Saran is that very chef! He has generously donated a 4 course dinner , plus dessert and wine for 8 people at his beautiful American Masala Farm in Washington County! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to have dinner prepared by one of the world’s great chefs and it will be auctioned off live at our Grand Gala dinner! Donated by: Suvir Saran. Value: Priceless.

SICILY ON THE SEA: A week for two in the magnificent beachside town of Marina di Ragusa including roundtrip airfare from JFK to Palermo, accommodations in a beachfront apartment, relaxing massage upon arrival, and Italian cooking & language classes. Also receive a copy of your hostess, Sally Veillette’s new book, “Sicilian Roots” and let her help you to plan your Sicilian Adventure. Donated by: Sally Veillette. Airfare donated by: Empire Travel Services. Value: $5,000.

WINE & DINE FOR THE ARTS CULINARY MASTERPIECE DINNER FOR 20: 5 of Albany’s Signature Chefs (to be announced at the auction) will be combining talents to WOW your guests with this priceless dining experience. The 5 course custom menu will be expertly paired with wine & spirits by Sommelier Dominick Purnomo. Dinner, to be staged on a mutually agreeable date, at Yono’s. Donated by: Festival Board, Signature Chefs & Empire Merchants North. Value: Priceless.

Original Oil painting by Leigh Wen: Noted artist, Leigh Wen has exhibited nationally and internationally since the early 1980s. In 1980, she was awarded Outstanding Merit in the Young Artists in Asia Now competition in Hong Kong. Her work has been featured in many national and international highly competitive jury shows, chosen from thousands of submissions. Donated by: Albany Center Gallery.

Albany Institute of History and Art Exclusive Behind the Scenes Tour with Chief Curator for you and 5 guests. Get up close and personal with fine and decorative collections spanning the !yth Century to the Present. The adult version of Night at the Museum! Donated by: Albany Institute of History & Art.

Albany Pro Musica Private Event: “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent”. ~Victor Hugo On a mutually agreed upon date, gifted performers (between 15-20 singers) from Albany Pro Musica, lead by Artistic Director David Janower, will perform at your event or private party. Donated by: Albany Pro Musica.

Subscriptions to the Albany Symphony Orchestra: Enjoy 2 subscriptions to Albany Symphony Orchestra’s 2013-2014 Season This package also includes a signed CD by internationally-acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma! A full season of the finest symphony music from some of the best seats in the house. Highlights include Ravel’s Bolero, Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony, and Brahms’ 1st Symphony and more! Donated by Albany Symphony Orchestra.

CINDERELLA on Broadway with Roundtrip Train Tickets: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA is coming to Broadway for the first time ever! Includes your choice of performance date from a wide selection beginning January 28th through February 28, 2013. Two show tickets as well as 2 vouchers for Amtrak round trip to NYC. Donated by Capital Repertory Theatre.

206 Responses

I would compete for Sicily on the Sea if winning the giveaway came with cash for bidding. If I was spending my own money, I would bid for the Wine and Dine for the Arts Culinary Masterpiece Dinner for 20.

I have never been to a Broadway Show and I would bid on Cindrella. As a child that was one of my favorite fairy tales. And probably the only one I could afford to bid on. The other items would be out of reach unless I won the lottery.

I would love to bid on the Wine & Spirits collection, as I am about to close on my first house. One of the first orders of business is turning an unfinished basement into a great entertaining space with a bar. This collection would surely please any thirsty guests in my new home.

I would choose Sicily on the Sea.
For one, my heritage began in Sicily. ON my Mothers side of the family, her relatives can be traced back to the island of Sicily.
The other reason, My wife and I have been wanting to visit Italy for year. We’ve heard all the fun stories of friends visiting. But we are not your typical travelers. We enjoy the not so traditional vacations. When we travel, we like to do something different.
It would be a dream come true if we were able to win a trip like that.

•SUVIR SARAN DINNER FOR 8 AT MASALA FARM: How would you like to have dinner prepared by the “Breakout Star of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters”? Our Festival Honorary Chef Suvir Saran is that very chef! He has generously donated a 4 course dinner , plus dessert and wine for 8 people at his beautiful American Masala Farm in Washington County! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to have dinner prepared by one of the world’s great chefs and it will be auctioned off live at our Grand Gala dinner! Donated by: Suvir Saran. Value: Priceless.

I would try to out bid everyone on the trip to italy, because my wife and I got married last year and we still have not had a chance for a honeymoon. Between work as a tax accountant and the kids sports schedule there was never any time to go away….

I would bid on the SICILY ON THE SEA. I have never won anything but even if I could out bid everyone and take home the prize, I would give it to my parents. They have given me so much over the years that no amount of money could repay them but possibly a trip of a lifetime filled with memories would be a great place to start.